1. Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Management Strategy for the 21 st Century GTRIC June 11, 2006 Barbara Post Manager, Information Services Bpost@nas.edu

2. TRB Update Policy Study – Special Report 284 Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Management Strategy for the 21 st Century NCHRP Project 20-75 Implementing the National Research Council Policy Study Special Report 284) NCHRP Project 20-70 Transportation Research Thesaurus Improvements NCHRP Synthesis Topic 37-02 Preservation and Use of Institutional Memory Transportation Research Records is to be offered electronic serial

3. Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Management Strategy for the 21st Century Provide strategic advice to the federal government and states on how transportation information should be provided and managed, including – Core services, – Sustainable administrative structure, and – Funding options to meet the needs of the public and private transportation sectors.

4. Study Committee Francis Francois, Chair, AASHTO (retired) Gary R. Allen, Virginia DOT, Charlottesville Lance R. Grenzeback, Cambridge Systematics, Inc., Cambridge, MA Robert C. Johns, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis R. David Lankes, Syracuse University, NY Charles R. McClure, Florida State University, Tallahassee Nina McLawhorn, Wisconsin DOT, Madison Michael D. Meyer, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Ellen (Leni) Oman, Washington State DOT, Olympia Bonnie A. Osif, Pennsylvania State University, University Park Roberto A. Sarmiento, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. Lisa Zeimer, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas, Baltimore

5. NRC Study Committee Process Formation of committee of experts Committee deliberation and report preparation Report review Report publication and dissemination

6. Study Approach Review of scoping study Review of transportation user needs Review of national libraries, networks, and consortium arrangements as potential models for transportation sector

7. Key System Elements TRIS bibliographic database (since 1970) Transportation Thesaurus (1996) OCLC + TLCaT (2004) Establishment of NTL (1998) Pilot Midwest regional consortium (MTKN) (2001) Transportation library connectivity pooled- fund project (2005)

8. Key System Gaps Lack of coordinating mechanism with national focus for information identification, collection, and preservation Lack of sustained financial support

9. Recommendations Network Development Establish TKNs in every U.S. region and at the federal level Networks are organizing structure of the digital age MTKN as a model NTL to lead federal TKN National-Level Coordinating Structure Create a national-level coordinating structure at U.S. DOT within the Research and Innovative Technology Administration to manage and coordinate activities of TKNs

10. Recommendations (contd) Governance Reconstituted Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics to become governance body for the coordinating structure External peer reviews of coordinating structure and TKNs

11. Recommendations (contd) Funding First 3 years: Annual federal grants of $3- 5 million to set up coordinating structure and establish regional & federal TKNs Years 3+: Annual budget of $7.5-13 million – federal grants + required local match for network operations

12. Next Steps Briefing at RITA NCHRP project to develop business plan and build stakeholder support submitted –188 projects were submitted – accepted 33 new 20 continuations NCHRP Project 20-75 Implementation Plan –Funded $200,000 –Panel nominations solicited –Chris Hedges (Staff Officer) –First Panel meeting September 2006

13. NCHRP Project 20-75 Tasks in Problem Statement : Develop a detailed business plan for implementing the administrative structure recommended by the Committee. Establish performance measures for evaluating delivery of the core services recommended by the Committee. Engage key U.S. DOT, state DOT, and University Transportation Center personnel in supporting and facilitating implementation of the Committee's recommendations. Develop a prototype website to demonstrate integrated information access and retrieval for a key transportation business need.

14. NCHRP Project 20-75 Chair and panel selected and approved Panel meets and reviews project statement and writes RFP Solicit proposals Panel reviews the proposals and selects contractor Panel reviews the contractors work

15. Any Questions?